Citation

Foley SM, Marrone J, Simon M. Behav. Sci. Law 2002; 20(6): 659-680.

Affiliation

Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts, Boston 02115, USA. susan.foley@umb.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/bsl.509

PMID

12465133

Abstract

Women with disabilities have low employment rates and about one-third live in poverty. They represent half of the population using either services of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system or the welfare system, and many use both. Although both systems have made gains in improving their employment status, neither comprehensively addresses the needs of this population. Welfare policy has encouraged state level innovation and moved large numbers of people into employment in as little as five years. State welfare agencies offer a range of services specifically addressing the needs of families with children. VR agencies have decades of specific experience assisting people with disabilities gain employment. Welfare reform has been the cruise ship moving large numbers of people across an ocean. VR agencies have been the kayak builders designing specialized small craft to move specific people along tributaries. What can they learn from each other?

Language: en